Framing elements



Dec. 17, 1946. V KAUTZ 2,412,618

FRAMING ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17, 1946.R'KAUTZ 2,412,618

FRAMING ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 17,1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRAMING ELEMENTS Frederick Kautz,Norwood, Pa. I Application January 15, 1941, Serial No. 374,568

9 Claims.

The invention relates to the production of a material suitable for usein screens, framing and frame structures, enclosures, partitions, bins,panels and guards in various structures, and particularly with relationto framing elements for meshed materials of various kinds. Thus, myinvention is applicable to production of screens in a novel form,suitable for use as screens in screening 'or separating and classifyingmaterial, or for screens adapted to function to enclose small birds,animals or the like, or for fencing.

The invention particularly aims to present such structure which may alsobe used to good advantage in the framing of building structures so thatunits of my invention may be set up without the use of studdingnecessarily, in some situations, and if not used as an open mesh.partition, they serve for the application of plaster, stucco, and thelike, to complete a wall, either as a partition or as an externalbearing wall. It is a particular aim of the invention to presentstructural material adapted to be used as an expanded metal support forplaster and the like, or without the application of such plastic, toserve as fencing or as a separating screen for various purposes.

Another important aim of the invention is to present a structure elementof this kind which is especially adapted to use in the construction ofbuildings, either commercial or domestic, where shelving is to be put inplace, so that the expanded metal or corresponding unit may be builtinto a wall or partitioning screen, and at the same time supply shelfsupport. Another important aim of the invention is to present astructure element adapted to use in producing steel re-inforced concreteslabs or the like, with novel advantages. A further additional purposeof the invention is to present a unit of material of this kind adaptedto use as a combined mold, concrete slab or wall reinforcement, andpermanent edge facing for finished work whereby it is protected fromchipping, and whereby also if desired, two or more units formed with myinvention may be connected together, if desired, by fastenings engagedbetween the mold or edge facing elements.

While I am aware that wire screens of corresponding material have beenheretofore framed by panel-like structural steel members and the like,there has heretofore been difiiculty in effecting a satisfactory unionor securement of the screen material to the metal framing, especially bywelding, on account of the diiference in heat diffusion of the screenmaterial and frame mate- (ol. 189-84) I 2 rial, and it is an importantaim of my invention to present a manner of construction which willenable the production of screen or expanded metal structural membershaving panel form or other edging or stiffening of heavy structuralangle steel devices or their equivalents attaining many novel advantagesover prior structure or; material, and having great strength anddurability, as well as simplifying steps required in manufacture. V

It has also been an aim toattain these'improvements while at the sametime reducing the cost of such materials. A further aim is to improvethe construction of the units to the end that it may be very quicklyassembled with a minimum of experience required on the part of' workmen,applying or erecting the material.

It is an important aim of the invention to present structural materialof this kind which will afford a maximum strength and rigidity inwalls,fences, partitions, and otherwise, incident to its use.

An object of the invention incident to production of this materialfis'to enable the weld to be made in such manner that the weldedmaterial will not be exposed saliently, and therefore,

in many situations, will involve a minimum re-. quirement of cleaning,and also will be liable in a minimum degree to corrosion. A furtheraimis to present a novel structural unit adapted to be assembled injuxtaposition withother like units, to enable the drawing of adjacent.units in a novel way to form a complete structure of high strength andgood appearance.

A further important aim of the invention is to present a structural unitof this kind which will be extremely light in weight, yet withoutsacrificing essential strength for the uses contemplated.

It is an important aim of the invention to present a novel means forattaching screen material to a. frame piece or edging, whereby thewelding of the screen material or expanded metal to such framing piecemay be effected without weakening the screen at the junction with theweld, without burning the screen material, and in such manner that ahighly secure attachment of the screen material is eifected.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in theconstruction, arrange ment and combination of parts involved intheembodiment of the invention, as will be more readily understood from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is afragmentary view of a structural element adapted to many and varioususes, as.

3 hereinbefore set forth, and as may be addi-' tionally understood fromthe description thereof and its adaptability to various uses.

Figure 2 is a cross section thereof.

Figure 3 is a similar cross section, showing a modification of thearrangement of the edge member of the unit with respect to the screenmaterial. I

Figure 4 is a similar fragmentary section showing a further arrangementof the screen material with respect to the edging member.

Figure 5 is a further modification of the relation of the screen to theedge member, the foregoing five views illustrating the use of simpleangle structural iron or steel members.

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal cross sections of modificationsillustrated in Figures 1 and 2,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one manner of producingthe article illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another manner offorming the stiffening member to receive the screen material to producean article corresponding to that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing another manner of forming thestiffening stock to receive the screen for producing the last namedarticle.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 show further modifications for producing sucharticle.

Figure 14 is a further modification of form of stiffening member forreceiving the screen to produce the article illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 15 is a further modification of the stillening member forproducing the article of Figure 2.

Figures 16 and 1'7 illustrate the various uses of the structuralelements of Figures 2 and 3 in a screen or similar partition structures.

There is illustrated in Figure 1 a portion of a unit structural membersuitable for various uses, and which may represent one corner of arectangular frame, consisting of a suitable number of angles ID, towhich there is attached at the junction of the flanges of the angles abody of open-mesh material II, which may be woven wire, expanded metal,or sheet metal, as will be understood hereinafter. In this particularinstance, channel portions of the angles are disposed at the outer sidesof the frame, and the screen material is engaged With the angles orsolid members at the outer sides of the angles formed by the junction ofthe two flanges l2 of the angles, and the screen material being extendedin a plane which approximately bisects the angles at the junction of theflanges I2.

The screen material may be extended from the inner side of this angle,substantially in the relation shown in Figure 3, if preferred, and mayextend in various other directions, as shown in the succeeding views,Figures 4, 5, '7 and following.

The angle l5 may be formed in various ways, being adapted to beassembled from two flat strips or ribbons of materials brought togetherat the proper angle as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and following, where itmay be a stock L-angle rolled in one piece and, pierced, out, or otherwise formed at the angle therein to receive the open=mesh or sheetmaterial, as will be described more in, detail hereinafter. In producingthe article of Figures 1 and 2, the respective strips intended to formthe. flanges l2, are brought into position as shown in Figure 2, afterinsertion of an edge portion of the screen material ll therebetween, sothat a small portion of the edge of the screen projects inwardly of theangle at the junction of the two flanges, after which a weld I3 isformed in accordance with any usual practices, but particularlyincluding the deposit of metal within the angle immediately at thejunction of the two flanges, in such manner that the molten metalsurrounds the end portions of the wire of the screen, or the edgeportion of the screen which is inserted and projected inwardly throughthe angle. In this way, the heat is absorbed from the weld body by theflanges I2 and dissipated by these, so that a minimum amount of heat istransmitted or accumulated in the extreme edge portion of the open-meshmaterial I l By the assembling method described, using two separatestrips to form the flanges I2, the welding of the open-mesh or sheetmetal material effects also the securement of the two flanges together,so that a complete angle is produced and the advantages utilized in thestiffening of the unit produced. In Figure 3, the angle l0 may beproduced of two straps of metal struck together at the proper angle asillustrated, while the body or the screen extends inwardly from theangle, but with an edge portion which projects outwardly at the convexangle formed by the two flanges. Using strap material which has beentrimmed with a flat edge substantially at right angles to the majorplane of the strap, a recess is formed between the two edges of theflanges, into which the weld material l4 may be introduced,substantially as it was deposited in the device of Figure 2, surroundingthe projected edge portion of the screen material, and the heat of theweld being transmitted to the flanges and dissipated thereby, with thesame benefit in preserving delicate screen material from burning orexcessive damage by heating of the weld. Utilizing a unit such as shownin Figure 3, it will readily be appreciated that a frame made up asdescribed with angles IO meeting at the corners, as shown in Figure 1,may be set upon a pianiform surface, and filled with a Portland cementconcrete aggregate of suitable kind, so that the concrete will penetratethrough the open mesh material to the supporting surfaces, where it willspread and be confined by the angles I0, and the concrete may beintroduced until its top surface lies flush with the upper edges of theangles H5, as will be appreciated. The slabs cast in this manner willthus be reinforced by the open mesh material, while its edge portionsare protected against chipping by the edge portions of the flanges [2.

The units formed as in Figure 1, and other modifications to be indicatedherein may also be set up on edge and connected to other elements to besupported as a fence or other enclosure.

In Figure 4, the manner of attaching the screen with relation to theflanges of an angle is illustrated, the screen material I! being laidagainst the inner side of one of the flanges with its first portionsprojected outwardly past the abutting edge of the opposite flange, whilea weld I 5 is built up at one side of the angle around the weld It beingthen built up at the inner-side of the angle. In these last describedtwo forms, the angle difiers from the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3 inthat in Figures 2 and 3 the flanges of the angles extend a commondistance from the vertex of the angles, while in Figures 4 and 5, theupper flange l2 shown is butted against the inner side of the flangel2-A, or at least against the screen material inserted between the two.The beneficial result in the transmission or conduction of heat from theweld to the flanges, and its rapid dissipation, are gained in the lastdescribed forms of the article in the same manner as in the first two.

In Figures 6 and 7, structures are shown somewhat similar to that shownin Figures 1 and 2, and comprise identical metal strips 8 and 9,angularly disposed, bisected by the end portion of the mesh material orthe like and welded at the root.- The strip 8 is placed in the sameplane as the mesh material, in order to obtain flush faced panels.

In Figure 8 there is shown a manner of forming one of the strips to beassembled from an angle stiffening member, in which the edge portion ofone strip which is to be butted against the side of the other strip isnotched at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the intersection ofwires or other elements in the open mesh material, the material It beingtrimmed on the line slightly outward of the junction of the wires. Afterthe trimming of the mesh material, its edge portion consisting of theintersections of the wires, is laid upon the inner side of the flangestrip 25, while the notched flange member 24 is set down against theother flange and so that the respective wire intersections of thematerial H are located within the notches. The weld material is thenapplied within the angle, substantially as at 16, in Figure 5, securingthe two pieces 24 and 25 together, and securing the material H to theassembled angle.

In Figure 9, both strips 25 are notched in the manner shown in Figure 8,and instead of one of the strips bein butted against the side of theother, they are both disposed at an angle to the plane of the materialII and the weld is then formed substantially as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 10, each flange 29 of the stiflening member orangle is shownas having extreme edge portions pressed alternately in oppositedirections, so that when brought together in proper angular relationswith the formed edges adjacent each other and with opposed salients ofthe formed edges in abutment, as at 30, slots 3| are formed between theoppositely pressed portions which are not in contact, and this permitsthe insertion of the intersections of the screen material ll intorespective slots, so that welding material may be formed at the innerside of the angle, substantially as shown in Figure 2, or otherwiseaccording to the relation of the screen material It to the formed angle.

In Figure 11, it is shown how the strip members 32 may be formed foraccommodation of a heavy wire mesh. In this construction the strips 32are angularly arranged and spaced apart and small metal slugs 34 areplaced between the strips and welded. Only occasional slugs will berequired, and these spaced apart as at 33, to permit entrance of thewire mesh, substantially in the relation shown in Figure 2, although thescreen may be disposed in different planes with respect to the anglemember, as will be understood.

In Figure 12, the stifiening member may be formed of a serpentine ortransversely corrugated right angles to each other, the junctionmaterial of the strip at its central part being struck out at intervalsto form opposed tongues 36 willciently separated to form openingsthrough the stifiening member at the angle, and to receive wireintersections between the tongues 36. Welds are applied at the innerside of the piece around the wire intersections, so that the latter arejoined to the angle piece 35 thus formed.

In Figure 14, a, lower flange strip 31 is shown,

having positioned thereon, in spaced relation, metal slugs 39, and anupper strip 38 is then set upon the slug 39, at right angles to thestrip 3! and the slugs. The screen material II is laid with its edgeportion intersections upon the flange strip 31 and set between thespaced slugs.

The weld material is then applied at the inner side of the angle to jointhe two strips and the screen material, forming an angle correspondingto that shown in Figure In Figure 15, specially formed strip material isutilized to produce the angle stifiness, in this case each strip beingformed with any suitable number of alternated ofiset flat portions 40,and

inwardly curved sections 4|, so that when two' strips are broughttogether with the inwardly curved portions opposed to each other, thelatter may contact, and form elongated slots 42 between the oppositelydisposed flat portions 40. In these slots the wire intersections of thescreen ma.- terial H may be respectively inserted and secured as beforeindicated.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the degree of angular relationof the two bisected strips may be subject to considerable variations fordesired purposes, and that it is a general advantage of weldedconstruction that great freedom of design is at disposal, and in thepresent case, the angular degree may be disposed in such way as toobtain greater rigidity of panels in a plane common with the mesh or maybe altered to reach better rigidity in a direction substantially atright angles to the mesh material.

While I have shown my invention with great particularity, in its variousforms, it is to be understood that these are purely exemplary, and thatvarious other modifications may be made, as well as changes in thesizes, proportions and construction of parts, as well as combination ofequivalent elements, without departing from the spirit of the invention,as more particularly set forth in the claims followin hereinafter.

I claim:

1. A structural member comprising a mesh web, the elements of whichbounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edges constituteprojecting elements spaced longitudinally of the mesh member, and aframe device therefor comprising elongated members having flangesarranged in angular spaced relation forming a root opening, slugs weldedat spaced intervals within the root opening, respective projectingportions of the mesh being engaged in the root openings between theslugs and weld materials for securing the mesh to said members, as andfor the purposes described.

2. A structural member comprising a mesh sheet or web, the elements ofwhich bounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edgesconstitute projecting elements spaced longitudinally of the edges of themesh member, and a frame device therefor, consisting of a sheet metalstrip bent to dispose its opposite longitudinal edge portions in angularrelation to each other, a plurality of opposed tongues being struck fromthe central portion of the strip toward the convex side thereof,respective projecting portions of said mesh member being engaged betweenrespective pairs of tongues and united with the material thereof, forthe purposes described.

3. A structural element comprising a web member of flexible material anda frame element therefor comprising an elongated member havingrespective flange portions disposed at an angle to each other, said webmember being engaged between the flange portions at the vertex of theframe element, and said frame element being formed with a multiplicityof longitudinally spaced openings at said vertex, said web member beinga mesh structure with projecting portions extended through said openingsand the ends of the mesh elements exposed at a side of the frameelement, and weld material engaged and united with the frame element atthe vertex of the angle and surrounding said projecting portions of themesh.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the ends of said mesh element areexposed at the concave side of the frame member.

5. A structural member comprising a mesh web to be supported within aframe, having a frame element consisting of flat bar members withlongitudinal edge portions disposed in angular relation to each otherand receiving edge portions of said Web therebetween, said frame elementincluding at least one bar member disposed at an angle to said mesh Web,welding material at contacting portions of said bar members and meshweb, and said welding material being located at a side of said frameelement opposite the body of said mesh web.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said bar members are positioned atan angle and in a plane parallel to said mesh web respectively.

7. A structural element of the character described comprising a mesh websupported within a frame having a frame member of angular form intransverse section and embodying two lateral flanges disposed at anacute angle to each other, and said frame member being apertured at itsangle vertex and having projecting end portions of said mesh webextended therethrough and oppositely exposed, and welding material en,gaged to unite said frame member with said web at points of contact, andsaid frame member having one flange positioned in a plane parallel tosaid mesh web, and the longitudinal extremities of said frame memberdying substantially in a common line extended at right angles from theplane of said mesh web. y

8. A structural element of the character described comprising a mesh websupported within a frame having a frame member of angular form intransverse section and embodying two lateral flanges disposed at anangle to each other, and said frame member being apertured at its anglevertex and having projecting end portions of said mesh web extendedtherethrough and oppositely exposed, and welding material engaged tounite said frame member with said web at points of contact, and saidmesh web being extended from the convex side of the frame member andlocated in a plane equally bisecting the angle of said flanges.

9. A structural member comprising a mesh sheet or web, the elements ofwhich bounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edgesconstitute projectin elements spaced longitudinally of the edges of themesh member, and a frame element therefor, consisting of two elongatedlateral members having flange portions arranged in angular relation toeach other, and said frame element including at least one elongatedmember having a deformed flange portion defined by projecting sectionsand sections receding therefrom said projecting sections contacting theopposite elongated member at the angle vertex formed by said flanges sothat openings are formed between said members, respective projectingportions of said mesh being engaged in said openings, and weldingmaterial employed to unite the mesh and said members, as and for thepurposes described.

FREDERICK KAUTZ.

